Compare towns
Natick vs Ogunquit vs Melrose vs Shrewsbury
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Ogunquit has grown the fastest since 2010 (+76.8%).
Melrose has the oldest housing (typical home built 1938).
Shrewsbury has the most affordable homes ($592k median).
What matters to you?
Pick a few. We’ll pull those rows to the top and mark which town comes out ahead on each. There’s no overall score: what matters is up to you.
| Measure | Natick | Ogunquit | Melrose | Shrewsbury |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 36,873 |
1,379Lowest |
29,650 |
38,876Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +12.1% U.S.: +7.4% |
+76.8%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+10.5% U.S.: +7.4% |
+7.6%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 43.3±1.4 11% above U.S. |
62.8±4.8Highest 61% above U.S. |
43.6±1.1 12% above U.S. |
40.6±1.5Lowest 4% above U.S. |
| Kids under 18 | 21.2%±1.9 U.S.: 22% |
5.7%±3.2Lowest U.S.: 22% |
20.2%±2.1 U.S.: 22% |
23.2%±1.9Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Shrewsbury and Natick are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 20.4%±1.9 U.S.: 17.2% |
43.6%±10.1Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
20.6%±2.2 U.S.: 17.2% |
15.4%±1.4Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 70.8%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
63.5% U.S.: 35.7% |
62%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
65.6% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5%±1Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.2%±2.8Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.6%±1 U.S.: 6.4% |
4.9%±0.8 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Natick and Shrewsbury are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $138,538±$11k 72% above U.S. |
$114,259±$56kLowest 42% above U.S. |
$133,953±$14k 66% above U.S. |
$139,302±$11kHighest 73% above U.S. |
| Shrewsbury and Natick are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $821,000±$25k 147% above U.S. |
$875,700±$79kHighest 163% above U.S. |
$822,900±$20k 147% above U.S. |
$592,300±$20kLowest 78% above U.S. |
| Ogunquit and Melrose are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $2,134±$124Highest 51% above U.S. |
— | $1,970±$149Lowest 39% above U.S. |
$2,116±$98 50% above U.S. |
| Natick and Shrewsbury are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $8,914Highest 186% above U.S. |
$4,473Lowest 43% above U.S. |
$7,578 143% above U.S. |
$6,923 122% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 41.7%±6.6 U.S.: 51.1% |
0%±61.1Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
50.3%±8.1Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
44.2%±6.9 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Melrose and Shrewsbury are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 5.8%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
3.2%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
3.8% U.S.: 12.5% |
3.7% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 68.2% U.S.: 65.2% |
94.3%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
67.2%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
72.2% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1968 12 yrs older than U.S. |
1978 2 yrs older than U.S. |
1938Lowest 42 yrs older than U.S. |
1979Highest 1 yr older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 31 min 16% above U.S. |
26 minLowest about the U.S. average |
35 minHighest 31% above U.S. |
31 min 17% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 25.1%±1.9Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
43.3%±12.4Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
29.6%±2.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
26.3%±2.8 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Ogunquit and Melrose are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Schools | ||||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #48 of 282 in MA | — | #62 of 282 in MA | #30 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Natick | — | Melrose | Shrewsbury |
| High school in town | Natick High | — | Melrose High | Shrewsbury High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.6Lowest |
— | 12.8 |
14.4Highest |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | None yet | None yet | None yet |
U.S. average · Sources: U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-year estimates 2020–2024; 2010 & 2020 decennial census; NCES Common Core of Data. “±” is the Census margin of error. Property tax is top-coded by the Census at $10,000+. School rank compares math and reading proficiency against the state average.